Owen nabs a late leveller as Town U16s earn a point

Banbridge Town Juniors U16 Lisburn League Team could only manage a disappointing share of the spoils against mid-table Greenisland on Saturday morning at Wallace Park as they drew 1-1.

On a difficult pitch with a strong gale blowing, the Town found it difficult to get their quick penetrating football going and found themselves embroiled in a ferocious midfield battle with space at a premium.

McKibbon had the Town’s best chance in the first 15 minutes firing straight at the keeper when well placed.

McKinstry then went close, firing a long range effort just past the post.

But Greenisland who were always dangerous, broke the deadlock when a free-kick wide on the left wing drifted in with the wind, over Leckey’s head into the net to put them one up before the break.

The second half saw the Town raise their game another gear and begin to work the Greenisland defence some more.

The Town back four of Downey, Morgan, Fitzsimmons and Irwin were now dominant, providing the Juniors with a platform to go express themselves, but that little bit of quality in the final third was missing in the Town’s play and it looked as though the equaliser would never come as chances went a begging.

Eventually with only minutes remaining on the clock, McKibbon broke down the right wing and produced a great cross for Fearon to head against the bar, but Byrne was on hand to force the ball over the line and rescue a point for the Juniors.

Again this team managed to salvage something from a game that seemed to be a slipping away from their grasp but they will have to find their top form as they enter the final month of the season and the business end of the year with games coming thick and fast.